Inflatable antenna



Sept. 23, 1958 w. J. 'II'RENCH ET AL INFLATABLE ANTENNA Filed Feb. 19, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS W/LL/4M TeE/VCM 4E7'H08 0. 6/585, BY

A T TOP/V5715 Sept. 23, 1958 w. J. TRENCH ET AL 3,

INFLATABLE ANTENNA Filed Feb. 19, 1954 2 Sheet s-Sheet 2 INVENTORS WILLIAM J. ream/CW.

4E7'BYH(/ 0. 6/585,

United States Patent 2,853,706 INFLATABLE ANTENNA William J. Trench and Arthur C. Giese, Peru, Ill.

Application February 19, 1954, Serial No. 411,299

3 Claims. (Cl. 343880) This invention relates to antennas, and more particularly to an improved inflatable television antenna. A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved inflatable television antenna which is simple in construction, which is easy to set up, and which is self-supporting and does not require any auxiliary support means, such as guy wires or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved inflatable television antenna which is inexpensive to manufacture, which is durable in construction, which is light in weight and which may be set up in a relatively short period of time and with a minimum amount of labor.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of tele- .vision antenna assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged horizontal cross sectional detail view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional detail view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view showing the end of the transmission line and air conduit employed with the antenna of Figures 1 to 3.

Figure 5 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 4. I

Figure 6 is a front elevational view, partly in vertical cross section, of a modified form of television antenna assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention, shown mounted on a gabled roof.

Figure 7 is a side elevational view of the television antenna assembly of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a front elevational view of a further modification of television antenna according to the present invention, shown mounted on a window sash.

Figure 9 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a front elevational view, partly in vertical cross section, showing a still further modified form of television antenna according to the present invention.

Figure 11 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional detail I view taken on the line 11-11 of Figure 10.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figures 1 to 5, the antenna illustrated in said figures is designated generally at 11 and comprises a generally rectangular base 12 of substantial area adapted to be secured to a supporting surface, as, for example, to a flat ably secured thereto is a hollow member 15 of flexible,

deformable material, such as flexible plastic material,

which is shaped in the configuration of a conventional television antenna array, including the reflector element 16, the dipole array 17, and the transversely extending member 18 connecting the mid portions of the reflector element 16 and the dipole array 17, as is clearly shown in Figure 1. The various elements of the member 18 are in communication with each other and are similarly in communication with the tubular standard 14.

Designated at 19 is a coiled spring which is disposed in the standard 14 and which is under compression, .so that the bottom end of the spring 19 bears on the base 12 and the top end thereof bears against the top end wall 21 of the standard. The coiled spring 19 thus acts to bias the tubular standard 14 toward an upright position when the base 12 is secured as a horizontal supporting surface.

Designated at 22 is another coiled spring which is disposed in the hollow element 18 of the member 15, the spring 22 being likewise under compression and acting to bias the arms of the element 18 toward horizontal positions on the standard 14, the respective ends of the spring 22 bearing respectively on the end portions of the member 18 which are reduced in diameter adjacent the respective elements 16 and 17.

Connected to the lower end of the tubular standard 14 is a tubular transmission line and conduit 23 which is in communication with the standard 14 and which is provided with a check valve 24 at its connection to the standard to allow air to enter the standard but to prevent the escape of air therefrom into the tubular member 23. The flexible conduit 23 may extend to a bracket 24 secured to the wall of the building or to the frame of a window 25 as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the conduit 23 being received in and secured in the bracket 24 as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. A suitable flexible air conduit 26 extends from the end of the conduit 23 in the bracket 24 into the house and may be connected to a suitable pump for inflating the antenna, as will be presently described.

Embedded in the flexible air conduit 23 are the transmission line conductors 27 and 28, said transmission line conductors extending into the tubular standard 23 and extending upwardly through said standard to the respective terminals of dipole conductors embedded in the arms of the dipole element 17.

If so desired, the coiled spring 22 in the member 18 may be omitted, and the pressure of the air pumped into member 13 may be relied upon to inflate said member and to support its arms in substantially horizontal positions.

Alternatively, the member 18 may comprise a solid rod of non-conducting material having a metallic reflector 16 secured to one end thereof and having a metallic dipole assembly 17 secured to its opposite end, the terminals of the assembly being connected to the ends of the conductors 27 and 28 of the transmision line, shown at 29, the elements 16, 17 and 18 being rigid and the standard 14 being inflatable.

In setting up the antenna, it is merely necessary to secure the base member 12 to the roof or other horizontal supporting surface, and then to inflate the antenna by pumping air through the conduit 23 and check valve 24. By pumping air into the antenna to a suflicient pressure, the antenna will be inflated to a substantially rigid condition, and will be retained upright by the pressure of air therein. When the conduit 23 is disconnected from the pump, the check valve 24 prevents the escape of air from the antenna assembly, whereby the assembly is maintained in anerect position.

Referring now to the form of the invention shown in Figures 6 and 7, designated generally at 11', the antenna comprises the inflatable standard 14' of flexible deformable material, such as flexible plastic material or the like, formed integrally with the bags 31, 31, at the lower end of the standards 14', the bags 31 containing fluent material 32, such as sand, or the like, and the bags being directed downwardly at angles of 45 to'the horizontal in opposite directions from the standard 14, as is clearly'shown in Figure 6. Thus, the bags 31, 31 are adapted to be disposed on opposite sides of the ridge of a gabled roof 33'and to support the standard 14' vertically at the ridge of the roof when the standard is inflated, as will be presently described.

The standard 14 is integrally formed at its top end with the hollow, horizontally extending member 15' containing the coiled spring 22 similar to the spring 22 employed in the member 15 of Figures 1 and 2. The standard 14' contains a coiled springsimilar to the spring 19 of Figure 3 which acts to bias the standard 14 to an upright position. The spring 22' acts to bias the arms of the member 15' to horizontal positions on the standard 14'.

Embedded in the walls of the member 15' is the folded dipole 34, the terminals of the folded dipolebeing con nected to a transmission line extending downwardly through the standard 14 and having its conductor wires embedded in the air tube 23 connected to the lower end of the standard 14', in the same manner as illustrated in Figure 3.

In installing the antenna of Figures 6 and 7, the bags 31, 31 are disposed on opposite sides of the ridge of the gabled roof 33, in the manner illustrated in Figure 6, and the antenna isinflated by pumping air through the flexible transmission line conduit 23. The line 23 is provided with a check valve, similar to .the check valve 24 illustrated in Figure 3, between the transmission line conduit 23 and the standard 14', to retain the air in the antenna assembly after the pump is disconnected from the conduit 23.

Referring now to Figure 10, 41 generally designates an antenna assembly, somewhat similar to that shown in Figures 6 and 7, but being adapted for indoor use. The antenna 41 comprises the dipole-supporting top hollow member 15 which is mounted on the hollow inflatable standard 14. Secured to the bottom end of the standard 14' is the hollow flexible base member 42, formed of plastic sheet material or the like, and containing a mass of weighting material 43, such as sand or the like, which acts to support the antenna in an upright position. As in Figures 6 and 7, the elements 14 and 15' are of flexible deformable material, such as flexible plastic ma terial, so that said elements may be inflated to a substantially rigid condition by pumping air into the antenna through the air conduit 23 which also contains the transmission wires connected to the folded dipole 34.

As in the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, members 15" and 14' may contain springs under compression to bias the members to straight configurations, namely to bias thearms of the member 15 toward horizontal position and to bias the member 14' toward a vertical position. If so desired, spring 22 may be omitted.

Referring now to the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, the inflatable antenna .is designated generally at 51 and comprises a hollow head element 52. secured to one arm ofa U-shaped bracket 53, the bracket having the clamping screw 54 threadedly engaged in its opposite arm. As shown in Figure 9, the bracket 53 is adapted to be inserted through an opening 55 provided in a window sash 55. The arm on which the head 52 is mounted is formed with a flange 57 disposed parallel and opposing the clamping screw 54, whereby the bracket 53 may be rigidly clamped to the sash 56 by tightening the screw 54, in the manner clearly illustrated in Figure 9. In this position, the head 52 is supported outside the window sash. Formed integrally with the head 52 are the outwardly extending hollow inflatable arms 53 ar ranged to define the configuration of a television antenna when the device is inflated. The arms 58 contain the conductors, said conductors being preferably embedded in said arms, which define the television antenna array. The conductors are connected at their terminals to the transmission line wires embedded in the flexible tubular conduit 59 which has one end thereof communicating with the interior of the head 52 and which extends through the sash 56 and through the inner arm of the bracket 53 to the inside of the house. A suitable pump may be connected to the end of the conduit 59 for inflating the antenna assembly after said assembly. has been installed on the window sash in the manner illustrated in Figures 8 and 9. The conduit 59 is provided with a suitable check valve adjacent the head 52 to allow air to enter the head but to prevent the air from escaping therefrom through the conduit 59 after the antenna hasbeen inflated and the pump has been disconnected from the'conduit 59.

Itwill be readily understood that the conductor wires in the air inflation conduit are'suitably connected at their inner. ends to the antenna terminals of the television receiver. 1

While certain specific embodiments of an improved inflatable television antenna have been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on'the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A television antenna comprising a base, a tubular standard of flexible deformable material secured on said base and closed at its bottom end, a hollow member of flexible deformable material secured to the top end of said standard in communication therewith, said hollow member having a pair ofhollow dipole arms arranged in the configuration of a television antenna array, a conduit connected to said standard for inflating said standard at its side wall and hollow member, a pair of transmission line conductor embeddedin parallel diametrically spaced relation in said conduit, respective dipole conductors embedded in said dipole arms, a' two-wire transmission line insaid standard connecting said transmission line conductors to said dipole conductors, a check valve between said conduit and said standard to maintain said standard and hollow member inflated, and a coiled spring arranged axially in said standard and acting on the oppo site ends thereof to bias said standard to anuprightposition'.

2. A television antenna comprising a base, a tubular standard of flexible deformable material secured on said base and closed at its bottom end, a hollow member of flexible deformable material secured to the top end of said standard in communication therewith, said hollow member having a pair of oppositely directed communicating hollow dipole arms arranged in the configuration of a television antenna array, a conduit connected to said standard at its side wall for inflating said standard and hollow member, a pair of transmission line conductors embedded in parallel diametrically-spaced relation in said conduit, respective dipole conductors embedded in said dipole arms, a two-wire transmission line in said standard, connecting said transmission line conductors to said dipole conductors, a check valve between said conduit and said standard to maintain said standard and hollow member inflated, a coiled spring arranged axially in said standard and acting on the opposite ends thereof to bias said standard to an upright position, and a coiled spring arranged axially in said hollow dipole arms and acting on the ends of said arms to bias said arms toward l horizontal positions on said standard.

3. A television antenna comprising a base, a tubular standard of flexible deformable material secured on said base and closed at its bottom end, a hollow member of flexible deformable material securedto the top end of said standard in communication therewith, sa-id hollow member having a pair of oppositely directed communicating hollow dipole arms arranged in the configuration of a television antenna array, a conduit connected to said standard at its side wall for inflating said standard and hollow member, a pair of transmission line conductors embedded in parallel diametrically spaced relation in said conduit, respective dipole conductors embedded in said dipole arms, a two-wire transmission line in said standard, connecting said transmission line conductors to said dipole conductors, a coiled spring arnanged axially in said standard and acting on the opposite ends thereof to bias said standard to an upright position, and a coiled spring arranged axially in said hollow dipole arms and acting on the ends of said arms to bias said arms toward horizontal positions on said standard, said base including oppositely projecting hollow chambers containing relatively heavy fluent material.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

